Does the USDA Require 2016 Nutrition Fact Panel Format or Allow 1990 Format?

Hi, 

I work for a dual jurisdiction food manufacture. We make mostly frozen appetizers. Do all USDA products need to follow the 2016 FDA guideline for labeling specifically the nutrition fact panel. 

Can our USDA items use the 1990 USDA NFP format? Or would this make them out of regulatory compliance. 

Thank you, 

Jackie

Hi,

According to the USDA: "In 2016, the FDA finalized a rule requiring labels regulated by FDA to use a revised NFL by January 2021....In 2017, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) followed suit with a proposed rule to revise the NFL on meat and poultry product labels. Labels regulated by FSIS can voluntarily use the revised FDA NFL, while FSIS works to finalize its own regulation."

Thanks for your response! I've seen statements like this as well but that doesn't specify that it is a requirement to use the FDA panel for USDA products. 

 

Hi,

 

According to the USDA: "In 2016, the FDA finalized a rule requiring labels regulated by FDA to use a revised NFL by January 2021....In 2017, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) followed suit with a proposed rule to revise the NFL on meat and poultry product labels. Labels regulated by FSIS can voluntarily use the revised FDA NFL, while FSIS works to finalize its own regulation."

 

Consumer Information and Labeling - Background | Economic Research Service

A Guide to Federal Food Labeling Requirements for Meat and Poultry Products

 

Unfortunately, it does look like you need to use the more updated NFP.